Press release

Tue, May 21st 2013 05:00 pm

The
New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation yesterday that increases
penalties for killing a police dog or police horse while on the line of duty.
The bill (S1079A) (A2596A), sponsored by Sen. George D. Maziarz and Assemblyman
Kenneth Zebrowski (D-New City), helps recognize the important roles these
animals have in crime solving, rescue and recovery operations and other duties
by creating a felony-level offense.

"Police
animals do a remarkable job protecting and serving the citizens of this state,"
Maziarz said. "In 2011, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office lost their K-9,
Rocky, when he fell off a roof tracking clues regarding a robbery. The use of
police animals is increasing and they continually undertake tasks that our own
police officers do. It is time that we provide these animals the protection
they deserve under the law when they are injured or die in the line of duty."

In
addition to the loss of Rocky, another high-profile death of a police animal
came in March when Ape, a newly trained FBI dog, was fatally shot as police
searched for Kurt Myers, a suspect in the deaths of four people in Herkimer.

"The role of police animals has significantly
expanded over the past few years leading to increased use in investigations and
apprehensions," Zebrowski said. "These animals provide protection, assistance
and improve public safety. State and local police invest a great deal of time
and resources in the training of these extraordinary animals. These animals are
viewed and respected as ordinary police officers and we should begin to reflect
that by increasing the penalty for killing them."

State
and local law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on these animals in crime
solving, rescue and recovery operations. Under current law, killing a police
animal is a Class A misdemeanor. The legislation passed by both houses
yesterday would make such an action a class E felony, punishable by up to four
years in prison - the highest penalty for killing an animal in the state.